The Longhorns blowout loss at home to UCLA was a shock to the system for Texas fans, players, and coaches. The ugly 34-12 result magnified the many problems the team has. They have a young quarterback with no running game and a lack of weapons on offense. The defense also has something to prove in the running game after giving up well over 200 yards rushing against the Bruins.

The team seems to lack confidence and chemistry. They had a huge drop in the polls and if they are unable to win at least one of the next two against the best two opponents on their schedule, Oklahoma and Nebraska, the Horns also face the prospect of dropping out of the polls completely for the first time in a very long time.

So, where do the Longhorns go from here? On the bright side, most of their goals are still in front of them. They can still win the Big 12 South even if they are only able split the next two games. Beating Oklahoma would make it easier, as a loss to the Sooners means Oklahoma would need to lose two conference games, and that's without Nebraska on their schedule.

Of course, anyone who watched the game on Saturday will have serious doubts as to whether they can accomplish this. They are looking eerily similar to the Nebraska team of last season that had a great defense and an anemic offense and lost four games. We will learn a lot about this Texas team in the next couple games. Are there leaders on this team that will step up and help the team get things done? Or will the season go in the tank?

The defense cannot afford another performance like they had in the second half against UCLA if they are going to be in the Big 12 South mix at the end of the season. Offensively Greg Davis and Mack Brown need to look themselves in the mirror and realize that the running game is not going to get it done. They need to ditch the base three wide receiver and a tight end set. The tight ends can't catch the football and with no running game to speak of they aren't needed to block, so you may as well put another wide receiver in the game and turn things loose. D.J. Monroe needs to be a big part of the running game from here on out as he's the only back that has shown any pop.

We will learn a lot about Garrett Gilbert over the next few weeks. The Greg Davis offense has always shown to be very simplistic and quarterbacks like Vince Young and Colt McCoy have been able to hide that quite a bit with their ability to improvise. At this point Gilbert hasn't shown to be that type of quarterback. That's less an indictment on Gilbert as it is on the offensive system and game plan that seems to require a guy who can run around and create something out of nothing. For Gilbert to have success Davis will need to design plays that don't have three or four receivers running five yards hitches, and allow him to throw down the field and over the middle. Let's see if he can get it done, time to throw him in and let him sink or swim.

This is a big week of game planning and practice for the Longhorns. Oklahoma is a team that has shown to be vulnerable and they must keep Landry Jones out of rhythm and slow down Demarco Murray to give themselves a shot at winning a low scoring game. If they can't, confidence will be at an all-time low heading to Nebraska and salvaging the season from that point will mean at least three losses and an uninteresting bowl game. Now it is time to see how the Longhorns respond.

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